Engine mounting means



Feb. 22 1927. 8,354

M. J. RITT ENGINE mounflue MEANS Filed April 22, 1926 Eeuofi byfthe similarly shaped peripheral surface Patented I Feb. 22, 1927.

MICHAEL .1. BITT, or CHICAGO, rumors.

ENGINE MOUNTING MEANS.

Application filcd April 22, 1926. Serial No; 103,690.

Y My invention relates to improvements to engine mounting means. 7 e

The principal object of the invention is to provide mounting means which will permit a relative movement of the engine with reference to the chassis frame when the vehicle is subjected to shocks due to collisions or otherextraordinary stresses, and cushion such movement of the engineto avoid damage thereto. v I

Another object is to provide adjustment means for preventing-said mounting means from rattling after a period ofusen Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become apparent froma consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein- V Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engineof awmotor vehicle showing the forward a mounting means in section.

mounting members.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section showing a modified form of cross-frame member. Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional View showing one of the two side or lateral "Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionv taken on line 3+3, Fig. 3.

F ig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, butshowing the opposite mounting member with certainf'partsomitted [for the purpose of clearne'ssf a Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating in dotted lines lateral displacement of the engine. r V In the drawings, 10 is an automobile engine which is adapted to be attached to the front transverse. frame member 11 and to the; side frame members 12 and 13.

- In Fig. 1, the front. frame member 11 is shownas supporting lower and upper socket member-S214and15, respectively, secured to movedtherein, similar to a ball and socket member llby bolts or the like. said members together forming a socket having .a wall shaped as a portion of a sphere whereof thefbearing member '16-can be universally joint. Member "16 is centrally apertured,

and through said aperture extends the cylindricalextension l'? of the engine casing. The projection '17is slidable in the aperture, whereby the engine. is permitted to move slightly in a. longitudinal direction when the vehicle is subjected to shocks at eitherend.

In Fig. 2,the' transverse frame member 11 is shown as being provided with a semicircular recess, over which is secured the plate 18 also. provided .with complementary semi-circular recesses. Plate 18 is removably secured to thetransverse frame member 11 by means of capscrews 19. V

The wall ofthe opening formed by the registering recesses in member 11 and plate 18' is formed as a portion of a sphere, the curvature'of the wall being similar to that shown in F ig. 1. positioned a plate or bearing member 16, theperipheral surface of' which is shaped to conform with the curvature of the wall of the previously mentioned opening,whereby said bearing member 16 can be moved an.

gularly with respect to the frame member 11. This construction provides, in effect,

a ball and socket joint, similar to the construction shown in Fig. l. I

The bearing member 16 is centrally apertured through which aperture extends the cylindrical portion 17 of the engine 10. The extension or portion 17 is of somewhat greater length than the thickness of the bearing member 16. By the construction described, provision is-made'for a'sliding movement. of the enginein a direction parallel to the side frame members '12,13,'as

' a bracket 23 which issecured to the adjacent side frame member 12 by any approved means. The wall of the'aperture 22 is at right angles to the vertical surface of the bracket, whereby the ball 21'can be readily positioned therein; Disposed on each side of the bracket- 23 is a plate 24 having acavity in its central portion, asillustrated in Fig, 4'. These complementary depressions or cavities of'the plates 24, as will .be seen,

coact with the aperture 22 of bracket 23Lto form a socket forthe ball 21. .Pms25 pass YVithin the opening is 74 freely through suitable openingsin the ends of the embracing plates 24 and bracket 23 on're'ach side of, the recess 22 and carry springs 26'compr'essed' between thenuts 27,

and the adjacent ends of' the said plates to hold the latter normally in the=position shown in Fig. i. It will be seen that this construction provides a resilient ball and socket joint, w iereby the engine 10 per mitted to move longitudinally the vehicle frame under abnormal stress ,snch move mentbeing cushioned by the springs 526. It will be understood, of course, amine relative arrangement of the ball and socket may be reversed, i. e., the ball may be supported by the side :l'rame member 12, While the bracket ill and socket forming members 22 may be secured to the engine.

The plate 19' on the opposite side of the engine is provided with a stud 27 on which is slidahly positioned a ball collar 28. The collar forms, in ellect, a ball which is retained in the aperture of the bracket 29 which is secured to the side frame member 13L The aperture in the bracket 29 is formed, as at 30, to provide spaceinto which the inner end of stud 27 can move when either frame member or 13 is sprung in man, as "will be seen, as when the vehicle is run into by another car. l. he section 31 01'' the bracket 29 hearing on the upper portion of the ball 28 may be formed sel'iaratcly,

as shown, and is adjustable by screw to talteupnvear and prevent rattling. The screw 32 may have a squared or hexagonal head 33 for engagement by a Wrench or the like and is also provided with a lock nut 34. ltwill be understood that a pair of socket forming plates, similar to plates 24, 2 t previously described, will be provided for coaction with the ball 28 and bracket 29, as on the opposite mounting member.

The bracket 23 may have an adjustable section, similar to section 31 of bracket 29 for taking up Wear. if desired, or both brackets may be of the one piece construction, shown in Fig, 3. It will be apparent that if the vehieleis struck with suflicicnt force to springthe side :tran' e member 12 near the front thereof, such motion will be transmitted to the engine and to the stud :17 on the opposite side, which will move into the clearance space Kill thereby avoiding the injury to the engine casing which is now frequently caused where no provision is made For such nunelncnt oit the engine relatively to one side lrame llitfllllltll'.

Should the frame 1 3 be sprung inwardly, such thrust will not be lraiismitted directly to the-engine due to the floating: connection between 'the said frame 15) and the engine, except in extrclue cases.

liy having: the ball 21 secured against lat, eral movement with reference to the frame member 12, theengine suitably anchored against moving transversely of the frame under normal conditions. The brackets and 2] prevent any vertical movement of the engineivith reference to the frame, While the sinings'flti on each of the rear mounting means and the universal joint at the front t my improvements iter the purpose of iustration, it will be m arent that yarious changes may be made therein without de P i s ter the p it f th ie eetieni and I do not ish to be restricted therefore to the speciiic form herein shown and de scribed except where limitatiol s thereto appear in the appended claims.

1. In con' bination, a. vehicle frame, engine, and means for lie ibly securingsa d engine to said i na -i a d {was ame has a member hav ng: a slul ngand nniversa. ep-

engine, and ball and soc ket connections at the rear side portions of d eng ne adapt ed to permit ot longituc al movement the engines with lGifGlQllCG to said frame,

2.1 1! con'lbination, a, yehicle frame, an engine, means for flexibly securing en- ,e iiie to said (frame, said means eom prisrnfi 'l,

a member having a sliding and um ens; engagement with a :l'oryyard portion 0 said engine, and ball and socket connections at the rent side portions of said engine sait socket connection ach compri 111g a pr ng w s ed r eir n' retiuy sock ar ing' members adapted to permit of lqngitt tlinal movement of the engines with reference o said frame- 3. Incoinbnmtion, a vehicle trainer an engine, n'ieains for illexil ly securing sait entic 10 a d fr m raid 116 1 winer es a member having a slling and universiil engagement with a, torunn'd portion. o'i" engine, and ball and socl fOl lllG CtlOllSllt the rear side portions of itl engine, socket connections each comprising; a Dell oil spring "resisted complementarya socket forming i'uembers a dapt ed taco-operate with said sliding univei ion atthe, front elf said engine for Pl-Full ting lateraland longit ulinal movement oi" said engine relas lively to mid frame. y i

1i. In combi mtion, a, vehicle frame having side frame members and a transvei e ne n l er having a circularopening therein, an apertured bearing member in said opening and having aball and socket en tmgeinent thercwitlnsaid engine having-a for artlly extending portion slidably positioned in the aperture of said bearing member, and tilesible mounting means at the rear portion of said engine for securing the engine to the side frame members. 7

5. In combination, a vehicle frame having side frame members and a transverse frame member having a-circular opening therein,

an apertured bearing member in said open ing, the Wall of said opening and the peripheral surface of said bearing member each being formed as a portion of a sphere whereby said bearing member is universally movable With reference to said transverse member, said engine having a forwardly extending cylindrical portion slidably positioned in the aperture of said bearing member, and mounting means adjacent the rear of said engine on each side thereof for flexibly securing the same to said side frame members.

6. In combination, a vehicleframe having side frame members, a transverse frame member having a circular opening therein, an apertured bearing member in said opening, the Wall of said opening and the peripheral surface of said bearing member each being formed as a portion of a sphere whereby said bearing member is universal- 1y movable With reference to said transverse member, said elwine havlng a forwardly extending cylindrical portion shdably posiframe members, a ball secured to said engine and extending into said recess, and a pair of spring resisted socket forming plates secured to said bracket and embracing said ball, one on each side of said bracket. 7

7. Means for securing an engine to the frame of a vehicle comprising a ball secured to the engine, a recessed bracket secured to the frame, said ball being positioned in said recess, a pair of plates each having a socket forming depression therein adapted to embrace said ball, one on each side of said bracket, a pair of pins extending through said plates and bracket, and springs on said pins tending to urge said plates against said ball and bracket, but permitting relative movement of said ball relatively to said bracket when said engine is subjected to abnormal shocks.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

MICHAEL J. RITT. 

